lake garda

We decided to spend a day driving around Lake Garda, which although not as impressive as Lake Maggiore, or as charming as Lake Como or my favorite Lake Orta, it's still worth a visit. The road from Riva del Garda down to Malcesine and Garda seemed to be the most touristy, and not so pretty with all the construction, hotels and camping places along the way. I'd read that the tiny village of Sirmione at the southernmost point was a must visit, so we decided to head down that way and have lunch there. The reviews were right, it's a very picturesque village, with its walled center and the castle entrance. Also, it had amazing ice cream shops, as you can see below ... Sara had her first taste of Italian ice cream and I think it's safe to say it won't be her last :)

riva del garda

A's conference was held in Riva del Garda, located at the northern point of Lake Garda. It's a small charming village, with a nice pedestrian area and lovely gardens by the lake. Not really a place I'd go out of my way to visit, but enjoyable for a quick visit if you're in the neighborhood. We spent a day just strolling around, and S. went wild when we found the children's park near the centre.